DOVER Athletic go into Saturday’s home game against Nuneaton with one or two shafts of light beginning to shine through the storm clouds hanging over Crabble. On the field, last Saturday’s excellent 2-1 victory at Leigh RMI under caretaker manager Clive Walker, coming only 24 hours after manager Gary Bellamy’s departure ‘by mutual consent’, was just the result needed to lift the players’ confidence and morale as they battle to get out of the Conference relegation area.

Off the pitch, urgent moves are continuing to ensure that the club survives the financial crisis with Whites’ hard-core supporters playing a growing role. The club outlined the current state of play in a statement this week.

It said: “Last Friday, the majority shareholders of Dover Athletic agreed to allow a committee made up of Gordon Cowan, Jim Gleeson, Bill Williams and Roger Knight to control the day-day-day running of the club’s affairs. This situation will remain in place until such time that all discussions have been completed with all those individuals and businesses who have shown an interest in either taking an interest, or taking control of the club, at which time a board of directors will be formed.

“We are still looking for two more individuals or businesses to come on board before we can get the already committed four to agree. Meetings are still taking place and it is anticipated that all parties will be in a position to make their decisions, and an announcement, by next Tuesday.”

The club also expressed their gratitude for the support given at the Stevenage home game, with the gate a season’s best 1,319 and a bucket collection raising nearly £1,800. Whites’ fans also crowded into the Centre Spot on Monday night to give their full support for plans to form a Supporters’ Trust at Dover.

Cowan said: “If the fans do form a Supporters’ Trust and can provide a financial input into the club then that’s great, because at the end of the day it’s hard cash that’s needed to run the club."

Meanwhile, Walker must focus on the Nuneaton game, where Whites need to build on the Leigh victory. He said: “It obviously won’t be easy on Saturday. Nuneaton are fifth in the table and they are always a hard side to play against."